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his mode of proceeding, and his uncivil behavior on entering camp, confirmed the belief that he was connected with the Mormons.
Yet he was at once taken to his heart by Governor Cumming, and no emissary to foment trouble and stir up Governor Cumming against Colonel Johnston could have been better chosen.
Fortunately, Colonel Johnston was above petty quarrels; and such were his dignity and bearing in all matters as to force Governor Cumming and every one else to respect him and his position.
His staff entered into his feelings, and bore themselves so as not to compromise him by act or word.
Colonel Johnston's orderly, happening to be in personal attendance upon Colonel Kane for a short time, said, of his own motion, to another sent to relieve him, to “keep an eye on the d—d Mormon.”
Colonel Kane, though in-doors, and the orderly outside, overheard the remark, and fired Governor Cumming's heart.
The Governor chose to construe it as an intentional insult by Colonel Johnston to his guest, and hence to himself, and proposed to resort to a challenge.
As Colonel Johnston had nothing to do with the instructions given the orderly, his adjutant-general assumed whatever responsibility existed, and the absurdity of the Governor's position was finally made plain to him, and the matter ended.
Conduct so captious, however, put Colonel Johnston on his guard, and destroyed all possibility of any cordial or confidential relations between himself and the Governor.
While it did not diminish the courtesy that he practised as due the Executive of the Territory, yet the Governor, on his part, retained and exhibited a rankling irritation and jealousy that proved injurious to the public interests.
The army was well drilled and thoroughly disciplined during the winter, at Fort Bridger, and was prepared in every respect to carry out whatever might be required to secure an entrance into Salt Lake Valley.
The idea of open resistance by the Mormons now became absurd.
The chief anxiety was so to maintain discipline that it should not be broken by the insults of an ignorant community, excited by its leaders to acts and expressions of hostility.
The advance of spring in this ice-bound desert was very slow.
Major Porter's diary says, on March 19th:
Stormed all day severely.
This is the worst storm we have had since we have been here; snowing and blowing hard; no wood, no fire, except for the cooks, and very cold.
- April 1st.-Clear and warm.
Thermometer 64° at 12 M.
- 2d.-About 3 A. M. a violent storm of wind arose, threatening to carry away tents and all habitations.
So violent a storm I never felt.
At reveille, snow mixed with hail in large quantities fell, covering the ground till noon.
Squalls of snow were passing over all day. The storm is severe upon the animals; but the moisture is good for the grass.
If our animals do not improve shortly, I fear we will have to resort to mule-meat, though the ration of beef is diminished to avoid such a contingency.
- 3d.-Still blowing, and very cold.
Streams were frozen last night.
Thermometer, at sunrise, 20°.
- 7th and 8th.-Snow and hail, and very cold.
- 9th.-Snow about two inches deep fell last night.
